Bonnie’s journey through Trimester Four is the focus of today’s episode and it is a true testament to her unending strength and resilience!

During her pregnancy, Bonnie experienced complications in the form of severe preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and hip pain that prevented her from walking more than a few metres. But it was after her son Patrick was born (at 37 weeks and 2.5 kilograms) that the real challenge began. Jaundice, a tongue-tie, and power vomiting characterised the first 6 weeks of Bonnie’s fourth trimester.

Listen to the episode to hear Bonnie candidly share stories from what she describes as the most difficult period of her life, as well as some of the highlights and what kept her going! Her limitless capacity for perseverance is truly inspirational.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Complications that Bonnie experienced during pregnancy that made her high-risk
• Latching issues that Pat experienced
• Managing preeclampsia after giving birth
• The various factors that made Pat’s case a complex one
• Discoveries that were made at Pat’s first IBCLC appointment at two weeks old
• Challenges that followed Pat’s frenectomy
• Positive changes that began to take place at the 6-week milestone
• Highlights of Bonnie’s antenatal journey
• Products that Bonnie recommends for new Mums
• And so much more!

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

Bonnie Hayes

Bonnie Hayes on LinkedIn

Ergobaby

Spectra Baby

SRC Recovery Leggings

Pop Family

Welcome back to the Pop Family Podcast! Today we’re covering Heidi’s fourth trimester (we’ll hear all about Bonnie’s fourth trimester in the next episode!). She walks us through her time at the hospital after giving birth and explains how she diagnosed her baby’s tongue tie, why the hospital was not helpful with the issue, and the frenectomy she decided on.

We also discuss the expectations we have that our bodies will ‘bounce back’ after giving birth, the tricky balancing act that is newborn sleep, the highs and lows of breastfeeding, the bonding that contact naps bring, and going back to work after having a baby.

Finally, we share some of Heidi’s recommendations for Mums in the fourth trimester. Thank you for joining us and don’t forget to stay tuned for Part B!

In this episode, we cover:

• A brief description of what trimester four is
• Our experiences of how our babies almost synced schedules in the first 12 weeks
• Heidi walks us through her time in the hospital after giving birth
• Tongue ties and how hospitals are often not allowed to diagnose them
• How Heidi handled her baby’s tongue tie and decided on a frenectomy
• Bodywork to release tension in babies
• The most difficult part of the fourth trimester for Heidi
• How Heidi figured out that her baby just wanted to be left alone to sleep 
• Going back to work and hiring a nanny
• The expectation of bouncing back after giving birth
• The highlights and challenges of the fourth trimester for Heidi
• And so much more!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Bonnie Hayes on LinkedIn

Australian Birth Stories

Heidi Trusler (Begg) on LinkedIn

Pop Family

Welcome back to another episode of the Pop Family Podcast! The beautiful Bonnie is back with us again today to share her and Heidi’s birth stories from January this year (2022). The accounts of their birthing experiences are quite detailed and may be triggering for some.

We begin with Bonnie’s journey as she tells us of her pre-labour experience, why she had to be induced, and why her options around her delivery were limited. We learn about her transition into active labour, why she chose to be in her body rather than her head, how she instinctively knew when to start pushing, and what her preferences for delivery were.

Heidi shares why she loved having both a private obstetrician and midwife, what ‘stretch and sweeps’ means, her dilemma when trying to ascertain whether her contractions were real, and how she entered a fully meditative state. Through Heidi’s birthing story we learn how the bath became her happy place, and how she was eventually able to find the resolve to push after an arduous 12-hour labour.

This is a truly enlightening episode and, if you’d like to hear the names of the two special bubs, be sure to tune in! 

In today’s episode, we cover:

• Back-to-back contractions and being your body rather than your head 
• How when to start pushing was natural and instinctive for Bonnie   
• Bonnie’s hospital plan and preferences for her delivery
• Heidi’s birth story, starting with her birthing preferences
• The perks of having a private obstetrician and midwife
• Heidi’s pre- and early labour journey
• How she got into the zone and found a fully meditative state
• Finding the resolve to push after 12 hours of active labour
• The name reveals of Heidi and Bonnie’s little bubs
• And so much more!

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

Bonnie Hayes on LinkedIn

Australian Birth Stories

Heidi Trusler (Begg) on LinkedIn

Pop Family

Welcome back to the Pop Family Podcast! Today, CEO Heidi is joined by Bonnie once again, this time to discuss the third trimester of their pregnancies.

We dive deep into our struggles such as weight gain, self-confidence, swollen ankles, gestational diabetes, and everything in between! We also take a look at the highlights of the third trimester and the special feeling you get when people are so lovely to you as a pregnant woman.

Next, we dive into a few things we did during our third trimesters that we’d do again during our future pregnancy journeys. You’ll hear all about antenatal classes, lactation consultants, antenatal pumping, and so much more. You don’t want to miss this one!

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The struggles of trimester three
• The highlights of trimester three
• Things we did during our third trimesters that we’d recommend
• Becoming familiar with your breasts in preparation for breastfeeding
• And so much more!

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

Bonnie Hayes on LinkedIn

Australian Birth Stories

Heidi Trusler (Begg) on LinkedIn

Pop Family

There is so much information available for mothers about the three trimesters during pregnancy, but almost nothing to prepare them for the fourth trimester! Talking to us today about how to handle the demands of a newborn relating to their sleep is nurse, midwife, and certified baby and child sleep consultant, Jude Capewell.

Join us to discover the most common red flags when a child isn't sleeping optimally (reliance on external measures and the blame game) and how external elements such as dummies, feeding cycles, motion, and rocking or patting can lead to bad sleep habits.

Jude also describes a poor feed-sleep cycle, as well as why it's so damaging to the baby and parents, and she shares some great advice on how to set a good sleep routine early on.

Tune in to learn five top tips on how to survive the fourth trimester and so much more in today’s fascinating episode!

In this episode, we cover:

• How motherhood inspired Jude to become a holistic sleep nurse
• The training involved in becoming a sleep consultant
• Common red flags Jude notices when a child isn’t sleeping optimally
• How external elements like dummies, feeding, motion or rocking can become bad habits
• Why the relationship between feeding and sleeping needs to be monitored
• Five top tips to survive the fourth trimester
• How to capitalise on a newborn’s awake time and know when it’s time to put them to sleep
• Why it’s never too early for a good sleep routine
• And so much more!

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

The Holistic Sleep Nurse

Judith Capewell Email

The Holistic Sleep Nurse: Support From Afar Package

Red Nose Guidelines

Spot Family

Today’s guest, Kate, is a freelance content creator, Mum of a child with dyslexia, dysgraphia and ADHD, and the co-founder of the Read3 Literacy Program (if you’re interested in learning more about Read 3, tune into our previous podcast with Robyn, Kate’s co-founder!).

In today’s episode, we have an open-hearted discussion (interspersed with a few tears!) about Kate’s journey of dealing with her son’s diagnoses.

Kate speaks candidly about the guilt and devastation that she felt when she discovered that Elliot had dyslexia, and how the experiences which followed motivated her to make literacy more accessible than it currently is.

Kate shares what she wishes she had known earlier, the interventions that have been incredibly helpful for her and her son, and valuable advice for all parents out there who may be going through something similar with their own children.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The instrumental role that parents should play in their child’s therapy journey once they receive a diagnosis
• What you should and shouldn’t expect from your child’s school teachers post-diagnosis
• Why we don’t always recommend getting a formal diagnosis from an educational psychologist
• One of Kate’s worst moments after Elliot received his dyslexia diagnosis and how it inspired the work she does at Read3
• Why so many of the children Speechies work with seem to hate school
• Kate shares some of the interventions that have made a huge difference in Elliot's life
• How Elliot’s school has supported him and Kate with regard to his diagnoses
• The solution that Read3 provides for children with reading and writing difficulties
• Challenges that children with a dyslexia diagnosis, and their parents, are likely to face
• And so much more!

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

Spot Family

Robyn Monaghan on LinkedIn

Read3

Read3 on Instagram

Read3 on Facebook

Read3 Early Literacy Screener

Speld Queensland

Western Australian DSF Speld

Code Red Dyslexia Network

International Dyslexia Associations

When it comes to literacy difficulties, early intervention is everything.

Today on the Spot Family Podcast we’re joined by one of the best in the business to discuss early literacy difficulties, how to identify them, and some insightful tips on how to treat them!

Robyn Monaghan has been a working speech pathologist for almost 40 years and, for the past 20, has focused her practice on assisting young people with dyslexia and other literacy disorders.

In this episode, we learn about Read3, Robyn’s tier-three intervention program for kids with severe literacy difficulties; what (or rather who) inspired its methods and development, how it’s structured, and the range of children it has expanded to assist.

Robyn breaks down the three tiers of intervention and lists the processing skills targeted by the tier three approach. We find out what red flags to look out for in terms of early literacy difficulties in young children and Robyn shares her top tips for parents of struggling readers!

Tune in for this thorough and assuring conversation on a topic close to all of our hearts.

In this episode, we cover:

• The inspiration behind the Read3 methods for children with severe literacy difficulties
• Why literacy is so crucial and the challenges people with reading difficulties face
• How children with literacy difficulties are being left behind, and the preventative interventions Heidi and Robyn hope will be incorporated into schools
• Signs of early literacy difficulties to look out for in young children
• The three tiers of intervention
• The processing skills that the tier three intervention approach targets
• When parents should seek help for their children
• Robyn’s tips for parents of struggling readers
• Why early intervention is critical!
• All about the Read3 program: who it’s written for, its structure, the resources it consists of, and how to access it
• And so much more!

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

Spot Family

Robyn Monaghan on LinkedIn

Read3

Read3 on Instagram

Read3 on Facebook

Lindamood-Bell

Maryanne Wolf

RAVE-O

Everyone’s pregnancy journey is different, with its own unique challenges and highlights. In this episode of the Spot Family Podcast, resident speechies Bonnie and Heidi recap their respective experiences of trimester two! We hear about Bonnie’s struggle with chronic pelvic pain and Heidi’s seemingly everlasting food aversion, and how they managed these challenges. Our hosts fill us in on the immense value they found in attending alternative birthing courses with their partners and why they walked out feeling calmer and more empowered. We learn the importance of maintaining your strength through exercise, however gentle, and how SRC recovery shorts may prove to be an absolute game-changer both during pregnancy and post-partum! Join us for this hyper-real conversation which is jam-packed with pregnancy and parenting resource recommendations and experience-based advice on what to do to ease yourself into your second trimester. You’re not alone on this journey and we’re here to help you feel just a little bit more prepared for the miracle coming your way!

In this episode, we cover: 

• The struggles and highlights of trimester two
• How Bonnie managed her chronic pelvic pain
• Heidi’s food aversion and her recommendations for those struggling
• The value that Bonnie and Heidi found in attending alternative birthing courses with their partners
• What worked for Bonnie and Heidi in trimester two
• How the ladies are respectively maintaining their strength through various forms of exercise
• Why it’s important to establish healthy habits and limits in the second trimester
• Resources Bonnie and Heidi recommend for parents-to-be
• And so much more!

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

Spot Family

Spot Family on Instagram

Australian Birth Stories Podcast

Kick Pregnancy Podcast

Hello, Bump Podcast

Steph Claire Smith on Instagram

Kic Pod

Holistic Lactation on Instagram

The Holistic Sleep Nurse on Instagram

The Holistic Psychologist on Instagram

Midwife Lauretta on Instagram

Hyperactivity, endless energy, incessant speaking, and impulsivity... These are some common signs of classic ADHD in little ones that many of us may recognise.

Today on the Spot Family Podcast we're speaking to Olwen Forker from Backchat Speech Pathology in Brisbane, who's bringing her extensive ADHD expertise to the conversation with a particular focus on awareness around inattentive ADHD markers.

Olwen's three children each have ADHD as part of their neurodevelopmental profile and today she shares her journey as a mother and Speech Pathologist who not only specialises but lives her work with neurodiverse little ones.

Hear all the ways that classic versus inattentive ADHD presents, the various challenges experienced in executive functioning, and how the Backchat clinic works as an invaluable resource for parents, paediatricians, OTs, and GPs.

This episode covers everything you need to know about ADHD, so if you're a parent whose gut instinct is telling you something's up, a therapist or teacher who wants to expand your knowledge, or you are just interested in this increasingly prevalent diagnosis, tune in now!

In this episode, we cover:

• Hear how early diagnosis changes lives
• Olwen shares the ways that inattentive type ADHD presents in kids
• About play-led education and how neurodivergent children have specific educational needs
• The difference between ADHD and the old term ADD
• The need for teachers to be educated about ADHD
• Some examples of exercise-driven routines at schools, for teens and littlies
• How schooling without sensory breaks is contributing to the mental health crisis
• What red flags therapists should look for; behavioral observations outweigh the CELF score
• Why paediatricians, OTs, psychiatrists, and even speechies bring their kids to the clinic!
• Who to go to first if you recognize the signs, and some great questions to ask a therapist
• And so much more!

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

Olwen Forker on LinkedIn

BackChat Speech Pathology

BackChat Speech Pathology on Facebook

BackChat Speech Pathology on Instagram

Maggie Dent

Martha Burns

Little Birdie Books

Lindamood-Bell Visualizing and Verbalizing Program

Pearson Assessments: CELF-5

SFP Episode 14: Talk, Read, Play, Succeed with Little Birdie Books

SFP Episode 2: What is Working Memory? With Dr Tracy Packiam Alloway

Spot Family

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Spot Family Podcast!

Today is the next instalment in our series on early child development and pregnancy! We discuss how each pregnancy is different, what we expected versus the reality of what our bodies were asking for, and some ways each of our lives have improved over the last few months.

Bonnie shares a very personal scare that happened in her first few weeks, and Heidi gets honest about how her work life had to change earlier than realized (for the better).

You’ll also hear some top tips and tricks for surviving some of the more uncomfortable physical symptoms, as well as some recommendations for some (other) excellent podcasts to support you.

From the 12-week rule of secrecy to big boobs and nausea, this episode touches on all the things that make this time so scary, and wonderful! If you're looking for real and honest reflections on all the highs and lows of trimester one, tune in now to hear all this and more!

In this episode, we cover:

• Anxiety and mental health struggles in our pregnancies
• Bonnie shares the stressful story of an early bleed that looked like a miscarriage
• Dealing with the physical rollercoaster: nausea, fatigue, migraines, and food aversion
• How Heidi's highly active pre-pregnancy life had to change, for the better
• How much the preparation in trimester zero helped support their first trimester
• The importance of having a great support network
• And so much more!

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

Birth, Baby & Beyond

The Kick Pregnancy Podcast

Hello Bump

Beyond the Bump

Spot Family